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VII REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICER
ON THE SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE
The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for the School Health Service, but by
virtue of an agreement required by Section 32 of the London Government Act 1963, there is joint
use by the Authority and the Council of professional staff, premises and equipment. The Medical
Officer of Health is the Principal School Medical Officer of the Inner London Education Authority
for the area of the borough and is responsible to that Authority for the day to day running of
the Service.
The work of the school health service during the year proceeded uneventfully. The Bethnal
Green Audiology Centre re-opened after extensive alterations and repairs to produce adequate
sound proofing. With a decline, over a period of years, in the recruitment of full-time medical
officers opportunity has been taken to enlist the help of more local practitioners who, after a
short period of inservice training, have proved adequate replacements.
As always, ready support has been given by the Medical Adviser and his central staff.
Similarly, our Local Divisional Education Officer and his staff continued their close liaison
enabling us all to maintain an effective service.
My personal thanks are given to my Deputy, Dr. C. Gourlay, who has been responsible for the
day to day running of the school health section.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL ROLLS
Pupils on school rolls numbered 32,337 at the end of the year, attending 101 maintained
schools in the borough which include three schools for the educationally subnormal, two for the
maladjusted, one for delicate children, and one for the physically handicapped. There are no
direct grant or independent schools included in the School Health Service. At the end of the year
the school registers were as follows:-
Type of School No of Schools Pupi1s
Primary 68 18,858
Secondary 21 12,095
Nursery 5 532
Special 7 852
MEDICAL INSPECTION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN
Routine medical examinations
These are carried out by medical officers of the department assisted by school nurses.
Where further examinations are found to be required children are referred to special clinics
e.g., vision, hearing, dental, ear nose and throat, special investigation clinic etc.
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